Udatalawinna Appeal on June 28

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: The Supreme Court yesterday fixed the Udathalawinna Mass Murder Appeal to be heard before a Bench of five Supreme Court Judges on June 28.

The Bench comprised Justice Nimal Dissanayake, Justice Raja Fernando and Justice Andrew Somawansa.

Earlier, the court had granted permission to prepare the case briefs only containing the relevant portions of the proceedings in the High Court.

Five accused-appellants H. M. Sunil Chandrasiri de Silva, R. B. Wijerathne, Kamal Wijerathne, S. Dissanayake and Mahinda Wijesinghe appealed against the conviction and the death sentence imposed by the Trial-at-Bar.

The accused-appellants being aggrieved by the conviction and the death sentence filed the appeals in the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the judgement and to acquit them of all the charges.

Fifteen accused-appellants including former Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte and his two sons were indicted in connection with the Udathalawinna massacre in which ten youths were murdered in December 2001.

The Trial-at-Bar delivering the judgement acquitted eight accused including the former Deputy Minister and his two sons and convicted the five accused.

Chandrika Pieris appeared for the accused-appellants.

The hearing was fixed for June 28.